For Otunba Lekan Ewenla, the latest recognition is more than just another award plaque.
It is an acknowledgment of years spent pushing for wider healthcare access and stronger health insurance coverage in Nigeria.
The Managing Director of Ultimate Health Management Services has been named winner of the African Health Maintenance Organization Chief Executive Officer Leadership Award 2026, a recognition reserved for business leaders driving measurable impact across the continent.
According to the organizers, the African CEO Leadership Awards celebrate executives whose leadership continues to transform industries, strengthen institutions and create sustainable value across Africa.
Reacting to the recognition, Ewenla described the award as a reflection of the work being done by Ultimate Health HMO to improve affordability, accessibility and equity within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He noted that health insurance remains one of the most important tools for reducing the financial burden of healthcare on ordinary Nigerians.
Rather than focusing only on the formal workforce, Ultimate Health has recently intensified efforts to reach millions of Nigerians operating within the informal sector through its Group, Individual and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP).
According to Ewenla, the initiative was designed to extend healthcare access to artisans, traders, market women, small business owners and other underserved groups that traditionally fall outside conventional insurance structures.
He explained that approximately 75 percent of Nigerians work within the informal economy, making their inclusion critical to achieving universal health coverage.
The company is also introducing a new service-level framework with healthcare providers nationwide in line with standards developed by the National Health Insurance Authority.
Beyond healthcare facilities, the organization is planning a broad stakeholder engagement campaign expected to bring together regulators, healthcare providers, business operators and representatives of informal sector groups.
Ewenla also praised the administration of Bola Tinubu for expanding support for health insurance enrollment and strengthening implementation through policy backing and funding.
According to him, the government’s target of enrolling millions of Nigerians into health insurance schemes represents a major opportunity to improve national health outcomes.
As part of its expansion strategy, Ultimate Health says it intends to engage leaders across major informal business clusters, including market associations, spare parts dealers, GSM traders and technology vendors.
The company is also seeking collaboration with Folashade Tinubu-Ojo to encourage greater participation among market men and women nationwide.
For Ewenla, the goal is simple: make quality healthcare accessible to more Nigerians regardless of income level, occupation or location.
And judging by the recognition he has just received, many believe the effort is already making an impact.
